There was excitement at Mobamba Secondary School in Nyaribari Masaba Constituency after it was declared the first school in both the Nyanza and Western regions to offer Chinese. The function was presided over by the Principal of the Confucius Institute, Nairobi.
The event took place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the school grounds. The ceremony began at 10:00 a.m. with a parade by the school’s marching band, followed by cultural performances from students, including a Chinese dragon dance and a Kisii folk dance to symbolise cultural exchange.
In his address, the Confucius Institute Principal said the programme would begin with 120 Form One and Form Two students taking Mandarin classes twice a week, taught by a certified instructor from the institute.
He noted that students would also have access to online learning resources and an annual opportunity to sit for the HSK proficiency examinations.
Mobamba High School Principal Dr. George Ogochi
He further stated that under the partnership, schools in the Nyanza and Western regions that study the Chinese language would be relieved of the burden of travelling long distances to Nairobi to sit for examinations.
The institute also donated textbooks, audio-visual equipment, and learning materials worth over Ksh 800,000 to support the programme.
Speaking during the event, Mobamba Secondary School Principal Dr George Ogochi said the introduction of Chinese was part of the school’s strategy to give students a competitive edge in global trade, technology, and scholarship opportunities.
He added that the school is expanding rapidly as learners continue to take rare but market-oriented subjects such as French, German, and aviation, among others, under the Competency-Based Curriculum pathways.
The occasion was graced by Kisii County Executive Committee Member in charge of Education, Erick Miyienda, alongside other local leaders.
Miyienda lauded the school management for establishing visionary partnerships with institutions to expand the school’s educational scope.
He reiterated the Kisii County Government’s commitment to supporting education programmes anchored on science and technology, citing a recent programme in which the county sponsored 20 students to study technological courses in China.
Miyienda said technical and vocational education is critical in addressing youth unemployment and driving industrial growth.
He noted that skills in languages, aviation, engineering, and ICT equip students with practical tools to create jobs and compete globally, rather than relying solely on white-collar employment.
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He added that partnerships with international institutions help bridge the gap between classroom learning and market demands, preparing learners for both local and international opportunities.
The day ended with the official unveiling of the “Mobamba Confucius Classroom” plaque and a tree-planting exercise involving guests, teachers, and students to mark the launch.
By Enock Okong’o
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